Angels and Airwaves : I-Empire (2007)

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"I-Empire", the sophomore album from Angels & Airwaves begins in much the same nature as its predecessor. It begins with an erie ambience that develops into an unrelenting bass line that is joined by soldier-style drums and intricate guitars as the song unfolds.

The opening track, A Call To Arms, is a much stronger track than the first track (Valkyre Missile) on their debut album "We Don't Need To Whisper". It is maybe the best song on the entire album, as it keeps on developing and makes small changes each chorus.

The lyrics are easy to remember and it doesn't take long before you will be singing along to this powerful piece of music. The first single from the album, Everything's Magic is possibly the most radio friendly affair on the record, featuring DJ scratching and a great deal of clapping and a very likable repetitive guitar riff. This could be the song to gain new fans who were put off the band after their debut offering, finding it too abstract.

"I-Empire" does feature the same spacy feel and sound, but the sound has been improved and is more concentrated. The intros are shorter, and while still more than most bands, even the lyrics are (slightly) less abstract.

The artwork itself positions one to think of the music being a soundtrack to a science fiction movie as the cover art features Star Wars and E.T. stylings. The previous album cover was also in the same vein, with a striking resemblance to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon". The point being, it could be as much the art work as the music that affects exactly how we interpret the sound of Angels & Airwaves' music.

The third song Breathe is a more subdued offering, featuring less instruments and softer vocals from singer Tom Delonge (Blink 182). It is a nice tempo change too, in a mostly powerful rock album, yet it does tend to get slightly repetitive with a small amount of the lyrics being repeated endlessly. The song does not really evolve at all, not justifying its five-minute-plus length.

Love Like Rockets is a highlight of the album once you make it past the ridiculously long introduction and useless speaking in the first minute or so. Delonge's vocals are, put simply, superb and attention-grabbing. It also involves some very likable slow guitar work late in the song that preludes a sped-up and more electric version of the chorus that the song finishes with.

Sirens is a mid-album miss. There really isn't anything wrong with the song, it is a likable enough song, it just does not live up to the rest of the album that is, in essence, a relentless rock opera. Secret Crowds is a return to the heights of the remainder of the album, with a powerful guitar intro and the intense vocals that are seperated during the song by powerful bursts of energy giving the song great diversity.

Unfortunately what could be mistaken for another incredibly long intro (actually an interlude) entitled Star of Bethlehem does its best to ruin the mood somewhat. When will bands learn that interludes are not a winner with fans? They just frustrate us! The interlude also spills nearly two minutes into the next track True Love. Once this track finds its legs it is actually another album highlight, but every time you try and listen to it, you're in for a long wait before you can get into the good!

Lifeline is a slower track, but more effective and progressive than the earlier slow number, Breathe. AVA clearly doesn't care that no album in history ever has ever had two interludes, because only two tracks after the last one - another very short one called Jumping Rooftops takes place - which is a burst of enjoyable guitar work that is far more entertaining than Star of Bethlehem.

Rite of Spring is possibly the most Blink 182 song on the album, mostly due to the fact that it is semi-autobiographical and is the only song that does not feature a myriad of abstract lyrics. While being the most similar track to a Blink 182 song, it still is really nothing like Blink 182, the music itself is nowhere near the sound Tom, Mark and Travis created throughout the early 00's.

The final track Heaven basically sums up the album. It is like A&A have taken the previous eleven track and pressure pumped them into six and half minutes. It features sections of instrumental work, heavy drums and guitars, fast and slow paced scenarios as well. It is a fitting ending to a brilliant album.

Angels & Airwaves have definitely improved and furthered their sound on "I-Empire". The vocals are improved and it is on the whole, musically, much better. It features songs that are catchy without really sounding like anything else on offer by any other contemporary band.

"I-Empire" will take you on a journey full of pounding drums, intricate guitars, zany lyrics that you'll want to go on over and over again. It isn't Blink 182, it isn't +44 and it sounds far different than what the shallow critics who have clearly listened to the album by fast forwarding most of it may tell you.

"I-Empire" is a tremendous effort by any band, it shows musical growth, has many hooks, involves variety and should be celebrated.

ALBUM RATING: 4 out of 5

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